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J. T. TODD.

TRACBR.

APPLIGATION FILED rBB.5, 1912.

Patented May 13, 1913.

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J. T. TODD.

TRACER.

APPLICATION FILED Imm, 1912.

Patented May 13, 1913.

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J. T. TODD.

TRAGBR.

APPLIOATION FILED mlm, 1912.

Patented May 13, 1913.

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J. T. TODD.

TRAOER.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB.5, 1912. 1,061,643. Patented May13, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. TODD, 0F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE REGISTER TRACER SYSTEM, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

TRACER.

Specification of Letters Patent. h

Patented May 13, 1913.

Continuation of application Serial No. 482,166, led March 8, 1909. This application filed February 5,

1912. Serial No. 675,439.

To all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, JOHN T. TODD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tracers, of which the following is a specification, reference b e ing had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference letters and characters designate like parts in the several views.

This invention relates to improvements in tracers, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use for centime ally locating in transit, at any point, any specilied shipments of goods over a railroad or railroads, or over water routes, or rails and water routes, and this application a substitute for my original application Serial Number 482,166, filed March 8, 1909.

One of the objects of the invention is to furnish to the consigner or party issuing t-he tracer, or to any other' person interested or concerned in the transaction, a report as to the condition of the affairs concerning which the tracer was issued, and if issued in connection with a shipment, to afford means whereby delay at any stage during the trans portatio-n may be located, in order to expedite the transmission of the shipment and apprise the issuer of the tracer or any other interested person, of' the condition of the shipment at all points to which it is billed or at junction or division points through which it passes during the transportation from t-he consigner to the consignee, to determine the carrier responsible for the delay. l

Figure l is a diagram showing the arrangement of matter on the outside of the extended cover. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of matter on the inside of the extended cover and the coin holder attached to the cover. Fig. 3 is an isometric projection of the extended device with the leaves spread apart, to show the relative location of the several parts. Fig. 4t is a diagram showing the construction and matter of the sticker. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the description of shipment, attachable to the tracer. Fig. 6 is a diagram of a combination agents record form. Fig. 7 is a diagram of an agents nal report showing the arrangement of matter thereon. Fig. 8 is a diagram of the face of the special request form showing the arrangement of matter thereon. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the reverse of the special request form. Fig. 10 is a diagram of another form of tracer blank.

The cover A is of tough paper or pliable bristol board of suflicient strength to support the attached part of the t acer, and is adapted to be folded preferably twice transversely to bring on the outside of the cover the address part of the tracer, when it is folded, for return to the party issuing the tracer, so that all of the other parts will be encompassed thereby or contained therein.

The outside of the cover A preferably comprises, when employed as a railroad shipment tracer an address section 1, a registi-ation section 2 having a blank 2L for the number of the tracer, a space 2 showing the capacity of the tracer as to the number of railroads, or transportation companies, a space 2c showing the number of intermediate reports and a notice space 2, for information indicating the origin of the tracer, and advising agents and transportation companies as to promptness in handling the tracer. The outside cover also comprises a section 3, comprising a space 3, addressed to the shipper, a space 3 advertising the capacity of different tracers and indicating the notation thereof. Obviously the general infornmtion may be varied to suit the several uses to which the tracer is put, and all of the information or data on the outside of the cover A may be arranged to suit the fancy or convenience of the party or parties issuing the same, and for the convenience of the uses for which it is employed.

In addition to furnishing information t0 the issuing' lparty and other interested, at the different stages of the progress of the tracer, the invention, in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9, contemplates means for providing the prepayment charges such as postage on all correspondence relating to the tracer; means for reporting at each stage of the progress of the tracer the amount of postage or coin remaining' in the tracer; means enabling the party tracing to receive a report from intermediate division stations passed by the tracer. Means for preventing duplication of information unless a second tracer is specifically authorized. And means for classifying the matter contained in the agents record blanks so that the record blanks of the same form may be used by the forwarding agent, or by an agent delivering to a described; an instruction section 5, containing instructions to the party tracing, a sticker section 6 for the attachment of the gummed perforated sticker 12 illustrated in Fig. 4 hereinafter described. A postage division section 7, for the attaching of a postage advise form 19, containing information as to the use of unattached postage or equivalent coin, with which the tracer is equipped; a coin or stamp holder section 8 equipped with a coin holder 17 provided with a cover 18 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and hereinafter described, and a record and report vsection 9 adapted to accommodate a set of final reports 15 illustrated in F ig. 7 and hereinafter described; a plurality of sets of combination agents record forms 13, carbon copies of same and a post card copy of same, illustrated in Fig. 6 and hereinafter described; a special request form 14 shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and hereinafter described, and a pluralityof carbon sets 20 shown in Fig. 3.

The description of shipment 10 (Figs. 5 and 3) comprises a section 1.0a for the serial number of the tracer, a section 10b for the name of the consignes, a section 10c for the destination, car number and initials; a section 10d for the list of articles; a section 10e for the shippers name and address; a section 10f descriptive of the bill of lading; and a section 10g instructing agents relative to shipments overtaken by the tracer. On the back of the description of shipment 10 is additional space for the listing of articles and the reference to the instructions for starting tracer. The'sticker 12 preferably comprises a permanent section 12a gummed tothe section 6 of the inside of the cover and having printed matter thereon advising agents as to the use of the detachable Do not delay tickets 12b forming part of the sticker. The Do not delay, tickets 12b are gummed on the back and are preferably separated by rows of perforated or weakened lines 12c so that the tickets may be torn off and applied to the way-bill of the shipment overtaken en route in order that all part-ies interested may have due notice and expedite the shipment.

Each tracer comprises a plurality of sets of agents record forms 13, shown in Figs. 6 and 3 numbered, sets 1, set 2 and 3, etc., and each set comprises a permanently attached agents record sheet 13, one or more exactly similar thin detachable sheets 13 containing the same information as the permanent agents record form, and for such use or distribution as may be required by the rules of the company which the agent represents; and a detachable post card 13 of eX- actly the same form, containing the same information as the permanent sheet 13 and the detachable thin sheet 13. The agents record form 13 comprises a section 13a having the name of the agent, the railway, the place to whom the tracer is forwarded; a section 13b for the insertion of the set number o-f the report; a section 13C' for the number of the tracer; a section 13d for a showing of the line from which it is received and the date; a section 13e fo-r a description of the waybill, date, consigner, consignee, car number and initial, train, date and time; a section 13f for a showing of the line to which delivered, the date of delivery, pro number, pro date, car number and initials; a section 13r for a statement or unattached postage and a section 13h to contain the name of the railway and agent furnishing the information and the date.v Each of the final report forms 15 comprises a section 15a to contain the station, State, pro number', date, car number and initials; a section 15b to contain. the dates when arrived, notified and delivered; a section 15e to contain the number of the tracer; a section 15d to contain a statement of the postage remaining in the tracer; a section 15e to contain the name of the agent and the railway furnishing the information any agent as to holding tracer for reconsigning instructions, etc., or any other request relating to the shipment or the tracer; a section 14d for the tracer number; and a section 149containing a brief description of the tracer and the shipment. The section 14e is separated from the section 14c by perforations 14f and is gummed on the back; so

that the section 14e may be gummed to the agents permanent record. rThe reverse side of the special request sheet (Fig. 9) comprises a section 14g-containing printed instructions to agents as hereinafter stated; a sectin 14h for the agents dating stamp and a section 14i containing directions forl afiixing the stamp. Each tracer also contains a final report set comprising a permam nent sheet 15, of the form shown in Fig. 7, one or more exactly similar thin detach-able sheets 15 containing the same information as the permanent sheet for use as may be required by the holders of the company reporting; and a detachable post card 15 of exactly the same form, The sheets 111, 13, 13, 15, 15 and the post cards 13, 15 and the carbon sheets 20 are all connected with the cover A preferably by suitable fasteners 16. The sheets 13 and the cards 13H and 15 are preferably perforated lengthwise near the parts thereof which are attached to the cover A so that said perforated sheets and cards may be readily detached. The matter of the Instructions to agents printed on the reverse side of the sheet 14, the sheet 13 of the first set of agents record form; the sheet 13 of second set of agcnts record form and the sheet 15 of the linal report set; is arranged reversely of the matter on the face of said sheets, so that the sheets which contain the instructions relating to the agents record, will, when turned up to be above the sheet on which the record is to be made, be directly in front of the person making the record, in order that the user may read the instructions without turning the sheets.

The coin holder 17 may be of any suitable construction but is preferably formed of a block of straw board secured to the cover A and having a plurality of pockets 17LL adapted to contain coins. The cover 18 is a strip of paper gummed on its underside with one end attached to the holder 17 and having lengthwise and transverse perforations or weakened lines 18 dividing the cover linto a plurality of members 18b so arranged that each member will cover one of the pockets 171L and each of the members 18b has a hole 18C through which the contents of the pockets 17 a may be seen. rllie cover 18 also has a section 18d to which the end of a strip of postage stamps 20n may be attached in the event stamps are used instead of coins for the prepayment of postage.

If coins are used they may be placed in the pockets 17a respectively, the gum on the back of the cover 18 will be inoistened and the cover will be stuck on the holder to keep the coins in place. Each person taking out a coin or coins to prepay postage will detach the members of the cover covering said coin and will'note in column D of the agents record form the value of the coin remaining in the holder; or if he uses postage stamps he will note in the same column the value of stamps remaining affixed to the coin holder. The postage advice sheet 19 has printed matter on its face stating the number, kind and total value of stamps atlixed to the coin holder, and agents handling the tracer will write on this sheet the value in cents of the unattached postage remaining in the tracer at the` time of forwarding the tracer to the next agent.

Tracers having a capacity to accommodate one transportation company which would necessitate a forwarding report and filial report, contained in set 1, are also supplied with a second set, designated set 2; which is ident-ical in form with set 1. The purpose of the inclusion of set 2, being that the capacity of the tracer adapted for a one railroad shipment, may be sutlicient to admit of securing a passing report at an intermediate division station, should a request therefor be iliade by the party tracing, or be deemed advisable by the forwarding agent on account of the unusual length of the transporting line. The purpose in providing one set extra in the tracer, adapted for railroads, or translmrtation company is to make it. possible to furnish an intermediate report. In the larger size tracers, special stress is not laid on the provision for intermediate reports; for the reason that in the three-railrtnul tracer, there are live sets that. are identical in forni and equally applicable for use of a forwarding, passing` or delivering agent, and likewise in the tracer of live-raiiroaul capacity there are nine sets numbered 1 to t) inclusive of the same form as are used in the five sets of the tracer oi: three-road capacity just described. In other words set 1 may be used by forwarding agent; set. by reason of special request 14, of party tracing, or for other reasons may be used by agent at an intermediate station on the originating road, for record of the passing of the shipment at such station.

lf the party tracing should ask for a passing report from two intermediate stations on the saine road, the agent at the second designated intermediate station on the originating road may use set 3 for his record of the shipment and may forward the tracer to the next agent of the same road at the junction point for the showing of the delivery to the connecting road at the junction point and said agent at the junction point may use the proper sections of set t and deliver thc tracer to the agent of the connecting line, who would use set 5 for showing the record of the forwarding` of the shipment in question over such junction point, and the agent of the second or connecting line at the junction point would dispose of the tracer by forwardingl it to the agent at destination for final report. From the fore going it is obvious that a tacer of threeroad capacity may be used for obtaining the records at the 'forwarding station, two intermediate division stations and a delivery to a connecting line station all on the originat ing road, and the for iarding on the second or connecting line, with filial report at destination; using in all six sets of tracers, and by reason of two intermediate division station reports being furnished a tracer of three-road capacity will be completely used up on the two-road shipment. Nor two tracers in the same series have identically the same number and the numbering of each tracer indicates the capacity of the tracer.

During the manufacture of the tracers they are numbered serially, the numbers of each series beginning with 1, and preferably running successively to a number not eX- ceeding sixdigits and affixed to each serial number.y is they designation ,-1, or 3, or 5, as the case may be, indicating the capacity` of each tracer as to the number of lines involved in the transportation, so thatI the user may by glancing at the serial number. determine the number of lines which may be accommodated by a given tracer, and which tracer is best adapted for use in each particular case.

A tracer which is designated as of fiveroad-capacity comprises ten sets of agents record forms of which nine sets are combination agents records and o-ne set is a final report to be billed by the agent as destination; the same tracer, however, if used in case that reports from intermediate division points are requested, would be available for use on a less number of roads, according to the number of supplemental or division reports asked for.

Incase the agent of the road at the place at which the bill of lading originates receives the shipment from a belt line or from a switching` road which does not bill the shipment, the agent at the originating station will note in the column A of set l the date and name of thebelt line, or switching line, from which he receives the shipment, in order that the tracer may show the time at which the shipment was received by the billing agent.

In case a shipment from an originating line is transferred at a junction station to a second or forwarding line, the agent of' the originating line will note in column C the delivery to the connecting line; and the forwarding agent of the second line will note in the column A of the next set the name of the originating line and the. date l on which received. If the notations in the two sets agree as to date, the time of delivery cannot .be questioned; if they disagree as to the date and time of delivery, the discrepancy may be investigated and the facts ascertained by thel parties interested.

1f delivery is accomplished by means of a belt line or other intermediate agency, the road making the delivery to the forwarding line at the junction point will note at the top of the report the name and address Cf the agent of the connecting line, and will note in column C of the same report the date of delivery and the name of the belt line or other intermediate agency; and the agent of the connecting line will in column A of the next set no-te the date received, and the name of the belt line or other intermediate agency and the difference between the date shown in column C ofthe first report and the dateyshownin column A of the second report will disclose the length of time that the shipment was in the hands of the belt line or other intermediate agency.

From the foregoing it will be seen that theinatter contained in the column A, is a check on the matter of column C of the different sheets of a set of agents records and reports, and the matter contained in column C is in like manner a check on the matter of column A. The column D always shows the state of the postage or coin accountand the column B always shows the original way bill number, date, consignee, car number and initial, train number, date and time.

The part-y starting the tracer indicates at the outset, by writing on the address blank on` t-he outside cover of the tracer and on the post cards, the name and address, o-r addresses, of the person or persons who is or who are to receive each 'or all of the different repo-rts to be made in response to the tracer. Next preceding set l of each tracer is a permanent special request form l-l hav ing a detachable slip 14 bearing the number of the tracer, the name of the person to whom the post cards are addressed, andthe name of the person to Whomr the -return tracer is addressed, so arranged that the agent at the originating station may detach said numbered strip and apply it permanently to his station record covering the shipment, so that the slip will thereafter at all times indicate to anyone looking up the vrecord that the shipment had been previously traced and reported upon; and if it was the policy of his company, in order to lessen work and avoid duplication of rec-- i ords, the agent would be in position to advise anyone making a second request for information as to that particular shipment, that such information had previously been furnished, to the person originating the tracer, by a tracer bearing the given number. A practical advantage of using in each set a plurality of thin detachable report sheets is: that t-he agent, atany stage of the progress of the tracer, in addition to making the ordinary reports, may tear off the thin detachable sheets of the agents record, which he has filled in, and may forward said detached sheets to his superior, to advise him of any important facts contained in the tracer, in which his company may bespecially interested. Another feature of great practical utility is that the combination agents record blanksare adapted for the making of reports by the forwarding agent, or intermediate station agents, or the agents at junction stations showing delivery to the connecting lines.

In the form shown in Fig. 10, the blank 2l is similar to the blank or form 13, but is adapted fo-r a different purpose. This blank 21 comprises a section 22 for the name of the party to `whom the tracer is delivered or forwarded; a section 23 for the insertion of the set number of the report, and a section 24: for the number of the tracer. There is also provided a sectional portion 25 for the date and a description of the territory to which it relates or is ati'ccted, as well as a section or portion E2G containing information indicating` the specific nature of the rcport. fx sectional portion 27 is also provided tocontain the name of the party furnishing the information. Similar to the, yforni` 13, the forms il are arranged in groups of two or more, which are all fastened together and connected to a suitable cover similar to the cover A. )ne of the blanks 2l is in the form of a postcard, while another is of thinner material, the faces of the two being so arranged that a farben sheet 20 may be inserted therebetween for duplication purposes. These forms, and especially the postcards, are provided with a weakened line 29, by means of which it may be detached for mailing purposes. ln the event of the tracer being employed for the purpose as indicated by the form of the blank shown in Fig. l0, the forms shown in Figs. 4L and 5 would not be employed but it is obvious that in their places would be provided data explaining or concerning the proposed use. Also the blanks shown in Figs. 8 and 9 would be substituted by sheets giving detailed information as to the handling of the tracer.

lVhile in the present exempliiication of this invention the return medium which con tains a duplicate copy of the information, is shown and described as being in the form of a postcard, it is obvious that any other form of return medium adapted for the purpose may be employed instead of the postcard. If it is found advisable to maintain secrecy as to the handling of the informa tion which the return medium contains, any other form of return medium which is detachable from the tracer and which will serve this purpose may be employed; such for instance as the ordinary and well known combined letter-sheet and envelop which may be secured into the tracer instead of the post-card and in such position with respect to the remaining sheets of the respective sets, that the information may be duplicated upon the letter sheet in the same manner as it is duplicated upon the post-card, and when the letter-sheet is detached the latter may be folded and sealed in the manner well known in devices of this character.

that is claimed as new is:

l. ln a shipment tracer, the combination of a pliable cover adapted to be folded twice t 'ansversely to inclose a gummed sticker sheet and an agents report form attached to said cover and comprising a reference tothe way bill covering the shipment which is being traced, said giimmed sticker sheet being secured to the inside of said cover and comprising a number ot separately detachable stickers separated by perforations, and said agents record form being also secured to the inside of said cover and comprising a reference to the way bill to which is attached a sticker detached from said sticker sheet.

2. ln a tracer, the combinatii'm of a plurality oil sets ol' records secured together, and a cover connected with said sets for protecting them, said records being arranged one over the other to form a series and bearing identical printed matter which is in registration when the sheets are superposed, all of which records have a common series designation, said sets also having an individual set designation, each set comprising two or more records, one of which is adapted to be detached from the tracer to form a return medium, each of the records of the respective sets also being provided with data embodying the name of the sender, the name ot the party to whom sent, and a statement of one of the parties to the transaction with reference to the matter concerning lwhich the tracer was used.

3. In a tracer, the combination of a plurality of sets of records secured together, a cover connected with said sets for protecting them, said records being arranged one over the other to form a series and bearing identical printed matter which is in registration when the sheets are superposed, all of which records have a common series designation, said sets also having an individual set designation, each set comprising two or more records, one of which is adapted to be detached from the tracer to form a return medium, each of the records of the respective sets also being provided with data ernbodying the name of the sender, the name of the party to whom sent, and a statement of one of the parties to the transaction with reference to the matter concerning which the tracer was used, and means connected and carried with the tracer whereby prepayment charges may be made.

et. In a tracer, the combination of a plurality of sets of records secured together, a cover connected with said sets for protecting them, said records being arri nged one over the other to form a series and bearing identical printed matter which is in registration when the sheets are superposed, all of which records have acommon series designation, said sets also having an individual set designation, each set comprising two or more records, one of which is adapted to be detached from the tracer to form a return medium, each of the reco-rds of the respective sets also being provided with data embodying the'name of the sender, the name of thef party to Whomsent, and a statement of one of the parties to the transactionV With reference to the matter concerning which the tracer was used, and a holder connected and carried With the tracer for holding coins fo-r payment charges.

5. A shipment tracer comprising a main cover; agents record sheets attached to said main cover and setting forth the name 0f the agent, the railway, the place to Which the tracer is forwarded, the set number of the report, the number of the tracer, the line from which received and the date, a descrip tion of the Way bill, the date of the Way bill, the name of the consigner, the name of the consignee, the car' number and initial, the train date and time, the lines vto Which delivered, the date of the delivery, the pro number, the pro date, the car number and initials, a statement of unattached postage, and the name of the railway and agent furnishing the information and the date; aiinal report for setting forth the station, State, pro number date, carnu'mbe'r and initials,rWhen ar rived, notified, and delivered, the number of the tracer, al statement of postage remaining in the tracer, the name. of the agent, and the railwayfurnishing the information and the date thereof; and a special request sheet containing a request relating to the shipment, the tracer number, a description of the tracer and shipment, and comprising a gummed strip detachably connected With said special requestsheet and a space adapted to receive the impressions of the agents dating stamp. In testimony `whereof I have signed my name to this specication, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 27th day of'January", A. D. 1912.

JOHN T. TODD. lVitnesses VVILBRA WV. SWETT, J r.,

D. Gr. CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

